Weed cutter and ballast shaper



1,671,849 A. J. WILLIAMS WEED CUTTER AND BALLAST SHAPER Filed Sept. 24, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'w/zaraz/J May 29, 1928.

May 29, 192& 1,671,849

. A. J. WILLIAMS WEED CUTTER AND BALLAST SHAPER Filed Sept. 24, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M Q 4 2" Q I n mun IIIIHIH1-*- if lllliiw IIIH Y Milli-ll" INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Patented May 29, 1928.

. UNITED ST T S reuse ANDREW J. WIL AMS, or Haven, MONTANA.

WEED CUTTER- AND BALLAST .SHAPER.

Application filed September 2 4, 1926. Serial 110. 137,553.

This invention relatesto combinedaveed cutting and levelling machines (lesigned for the purpose of levelling thcsurface ofthe ballast adjacent a railroad track, and. at the same time cutting the weeds below said surface, so that the machine will perforn'i two operation simultaneouslyin a thorough and efficient manner within a relatively short time. a i

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine for this purpose which may be removably attached to a railway clination of the ballast.

car and regulated in accordance with the use for which it is intended. In 1 other words, the machine may be adjusted in accordance with the height and degree of in- A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this/character which includes combined cutting and levelling blades, so mounted as to .yieldingly move upward when striking an obstruction.

A further objectof the invention is the provision of means for. mounting the machine upon a railway car so that the. said machine may be moved to an out of the Way position and supported upon the car when not in use. e

A still further object oftheninvention is the provision of means .for attaching the machine to a car in such manner that it may be quickly and readily detached.

With the above and other objects. in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully describedpillus' trated in the accompanyingdrawings and pointed out in theappended claim.

In the drawings i Figure 1 is a top plan view the invention. I

Figure 2 is an elevation looking at the front end of the machine. a J t Figure 3 is a detail section on thecline 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 aresimilar views taken respectively on the lines 4-l and 5-5 of Figure 1. v

Figure '6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figures 7 and 8 are detail sections taken respectively on the lines 7 7 and 8 -8 of Figure 1. i i 1 illustrating Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-901 Figure 8. 1

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates a portion of a railway car, which is preferably motor driven and which includes a platform, one of the rails over which the car travels being indicated at 11. The railway ties areindicated at 12 and, the

ballast at 13, thelatter extending outward from the ends of the ties anddownward, as is usual in railway. track construction.

Theinvention, which is designed to act upon the ballast and weeds growing upward therethrough, is designed to obviate the necessity of cutting the weeds by hand, as well as levelling the ballast in the same manner and is designed to level the ballast and cut the weeds simultaneously. For this purpose, the invention comprises a frame 14 which may be substantially V-shaped in plan, the ends ofthe frame having angularly disposed extensions 15 which are received in eyes carried at the outer ends of arms 16. These arms are secured to the side ofthe car 1(land, the ties are spaced :1 suificient distance from the car so that the extensions 15 will be beyond the. car wheels; The outer end of the frame 14 supportedby a wheel 14 which is designed to travel along thegutter or depression in" the ground beyond the'ballast 13. An arm 17 connects the wheel Mwith the frame. Extending downwardly from a sleeve 18 which is secured to one arm of the frame 21 extend downwardly from a sleeve 22 which is secured tothe other arm of the frameand these last mentioned bars are connected at their bottom as indicated at 23.

The bars 19 and 21 provide guides for the blade beam. 2 1. This beam round throughout its lengtlnthe bars 21 being spaced sufficiently to permit free vertical movement of the beam therebetween. One end otthe beanr24. hassecured thereto. a transversely rectangularmember 25 which has a sliding fit between the bars 19 and which carries a clamping block 26. This endof. the beam 24 may thusmove vertically between the bars 19 but will be held against relative longitudinal or rotary movement. Extendlng upwardly from the beam 24 are arms27 and 27 the lower ends of these arms being pivotally secured to sleeves attached to the beam 24, the pivots being indicated at 28. The upper ends of these arms have pivotal connection with crank arms 29 and 29' which are connected respectively to the arms 27 and 27. For this purpose the arms 27 and 27 have slidingly mounted thereon sleeves 27 and the arms 29 and 29 are pivoted to these sleeves, so that there is provided a sliding pivotal connection between the arms 27--29 and the arms 2729'. Mounted upon the arms 27 and 27 between the pivotal mounting of these arms and the sleeves 27*, are springs 27". These springs exert a downward pressure on the beam 24 so that the latter will be yieldingly forced downward. The arms 29 and 29 are carried by rock shafts 30 and 30', both of which are mounted in suitable bearings carried by the frame 14.

The rock shaft 30 is mounted adjacent one end of the beam 24 and has connected there to an operating lever 31 which may be op erated to rock the shaft 30 and raise or lower the adjacent end of the beam 24. The lever 31 is held in adjusted position by means of a spring actuated dog which engages the teeth of a segment 32. The rock shaft 30' is connected to an operating lever 31 which is provided with a spring actuated dog for engagement with the teeth of a segment 32. The segments 32 and 32 are fast with the frame 14.

It will be-seen that by operating the levers 31 and 31, either end of the bar 24 may be vertically adjusted to regulate its height with res ect to the ballast 13.

he bar 24 is shaped substantially as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings soas to accommodate it to the surface of the ballast 13. Rotatably mounted within the bar 24 are sleeves 33, which are held in adjusted position by set screws 34. These sleeves are provided with transversely rectangular bars to slidingly receive similarly shaped rods 35 which provide shanks for combined cutting and levelling blades 36. Mounted upon the rods 35 between shouders 37 and 38 are coiled springs 39. The shoulders 38 are formed by flanges carried by the sleeves '33 and the springs bearing against these shoulders act to force the blades 36 downward. Downward movement of the blades is limited by cotter pins 40 which extend through the rods 35. The blades may however, move upward against the tension of the sprin s 39.

The blades are designed to be positioned so as to travel below the surface of the ballast 13 and in moving through the ballast, will level the same. In addition, the blades will cut any weeds which may be growing upward through the ballast.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, the blades 36 are shown elevated and in order to move them to an operative position, the levers 31 and 31' are manipulated. The opposite ends of the beam 24 may thus be independently adjusted as desired.

Extending from the frame 14 is a rigid arm or lever 41 which may be used to swing the frame vertically upward above the platform of the car 10, when the machine is not in use. This position is illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings,

in which position the arm or lever 31 will rest upon the platform of the car and serve to support the machine above said platform.

While the blades 36 may be adjusted to any desired position, it is preferred to adjust them substantially as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. In this position, the blades extend inwardly at an incline with res acct to the ends ofthe ties and as the machine moves forward, the blades will tend to move the ballastinward or toward the ties during the levelling and cutting o eratioru The invention is suscepti le of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is here'- in reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the claimed is In combination with afvehicle, a frame comprising'two armsangularly arranged relatively to each other and joined together at one end, a wheel connected to said arms at their juncture, the opposite ends being angularly turned to lie in alignment with each other, pivotal means for connecting said arms to the vehicle, a beam extending transversely of said arms and lying at an invention what is angle thereto, rock shafts on the arms each having one end pivotallv connected with said beam, hand levers for operating said rock shafts, cutting blade supports extending vertically down wardfrom said beam and having horizontally disposed cutting blades connected to their lower ends, means for adjusting the blades vertically, means for permitting angular adjustment of the blades.) resilient means for holding said blades yicldably in their adjusted position, and means for holding said blades in their angularly adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ANDREW J. WILLIAMS. 

